2015 Beauty Favorites

Hi guys!

It's 2016 which means it's time for me to share my overall beauty favorites of 2015! You will have seen these products in my videos before but this is just a roundup of everything I loved! Also let my know if you would like my monthly favorites to be a video rather than a written post :)

Watch the video below:

List of products mentioned is in the description of the video.

Please subscribe to my Youtube channel if you haven't already so you don't miss any of my future videos!

-Alexis :)

Makeup Tutorial - Dramatic Evening Makeup - Silver & Plum Metallic Eyes

Hi Everyone!

Another makeup tutorial! This time a more dramatic look perfect for parties or other evening events. Check out the tutorial below:

Make sure you subscribe to my channel if you haven't already.

-Alexis :)

Makeup Tutorial - Powder Contouring & Highlighting Tutorial

Hi Everyone!

Today I have another makeup tutorial for you: how to contour and highlight your face using a powder kit. I use the Australis kit which I've talked about heaps before, you can see my first impression and review on it here

Watch the tutorial below:

I have loads of new videos coming up so you should subscribe to my channel if you haven't already so you don't miss any!


-Alexis :)

Makeup Tutorial - How To Apply Foundation For Beginners

Hi everyone

I have done a few makeup tutorials now but I haven't gone into much detail about how to buy and apply foundation. This is a tutorial for beginners on how to select the right shade for your skin tone and how to apply it for a flawless base for the rest of your makeup. 

You can watch the full tutorial below:

Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any future videos from me!
I also have a new Facebook page! Go like it here!

-Alexis :)

Quick Beauty Tip - How To Clean Makeup Brushes

Hi everyone

This is just a short post on how to clean makeup brushes.

Things you need: Brushes to be cleaned, a bowl and shampoo.

First put some shampoo in the bowl. You can use a makeup brush cleaner but they can be expensive so shampoo is a cheaper option that works. Add warm water. Swirl the brush around in the soapy water and use your hand to gently rub the brush to remove the makeup.

If your brushes are really dirty you can leave them to soak for a bit.

Rinse the shampoo out of the brush with warm water.

Leave the brushes on a towel to dry. I usually leave them overnight.

Done. All clean!

-Alexis :)

Max Factor Luminizer Foundation Review

Hi everyone!

I another foundation review for you today - this time Max Factor Luminizer Foundation. 

There is 14 different shades so finding a perfect match is easy. I got the shade 50 natural.

The packaging of this foundation is nice but nothing amazing. It has a pump which makes it easy to get the product out. 

The only thing I had on my face before the foundation was moisturiser and I didn't use a setting spray.

The texture of this is nice, not too thick which made it easy to apply. I used a flat top foundation brush to apply it and it blended out very smoothly with almost no effort. 

I would say this foundation has a medium coverage but I was able to build it up to a almost full coverage without it looking cakey. It would also be able to be worn light if a smaller amount was used.

Above is what the foundation looked like by itself. I hadn't used any concealer at this point and you can see it has covered up the acne and scarring on my chin and the redness on my cheeks.

This foundation made my skin glow amazingly which I love!

I set the foundation using my usual Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder and it soaked up the powder so didn't look powdery or cakey at all.

The picture above shows how flawless and glowing my skin looks with this foundation! 

6.5 hours after application:

After 6.5 hours this foundation still looked amazing! A tiny bit had rubbed off around my nose but that was only because I am a bit sick at the moment. It looked exactly the same as earlier on the rest of my face - that is with no primer or setting spray!

Overall I think this foundation is AMAZING! It stays put for hours and has a flawless finish. At around $40 (NZ) it is pretty affordable and for the price is a very good buy. I would definitely recommend this foundation!

-Alexis :)

Almay TLC Foundation Review

Hi everyone!

I bought this Almay TLC (truly lasting color) Foundation a while ago mostly due to the fact that I have slightly sensitive skin at times. There is a lot I have to say about this foundation so thought I would write a review for you. I had a quick look on the internet for other people's reviews of this foundation and found that many people love it and many people hate it. This review is just my opinion on it and I would recommend you look up more reviews before buying or testing it if you have the opportunity.

My before image - As you can see I have a lot of redness on my cheeks and acne and scarring on my chin. The only thing I have put on my face is my usual moisturiser.

The packaging of this product is very nice. It is in a glass bottle with a pump which makes it easy and not messy to get the product out. When buying you should check the pump works first if possible because the first one I picked up had a pump that did not work. There is 8 shades available, which isn't many compared to other makeup brands, so it can be difficult to get a good match. There wasn't much choice between undertones either. I got the shade 140 buff which I find is slightly too pink for my olive skin. It isn't a huge difference but can be slightly noticeable, possibly more so if you had darker skin than me.

I bought this from Farmers (NZ) for $34.95 which is relatively affordable. 

I found the texture of this foundation quite strange. It feels very thick and heavy which can make it difficult to blend onto the face. 

I found this foundation applied best with my beauty blender. I tried a flat top foundation brush and a paddle foundation brush but found that the products went patchy and didn't look good at all.

When the foundation was on my face it felt quite tacky and the weight of it was average. It didn't feel extremely heavy but it wasn't light either.

I have had a weird dry patch on my face and when the foundation went on it it made it sting a little which was worrying, especially because this is a foundation for sensitive skin. This foundation also clung to any dry skin on my face.

Because of the weird texture of it I would say it does take a bit of practise to be able to apply it well. I have worn it a few times before I took these photos and written this review. The first few times weren't so good :P

I feel like I used a large amount of product to cover my whole face. I used 2+ pumps for a start then I went back later and used more to build up the coverage.

                           

I would say this is only a light-medium coverage foundation. When I tried to build it up I was able to do so slightly but then it started to look quite cakey. 

Above is how it looked with just the foundation. In photos you can see it is very reflective so I wouldn't recommend this foundation for someone who is going to be having photos taken of them. (This was the good photo - others were brighter).

I set this foundation using my usual Australis Fresh & Flawless Pressed Powder. I found that the powder just sort of sat of the top and looked powdery and cakey so that is something you have to be careful with.

As you can see in the above photo the powder took away some of the shine. 

I didn't use any concealer and the foundation covered most of the scars and from a distance the acne couldn't be seen.

This foundation didn't cover everything but the finish looked alright overall.

4 hours after application:

This foundation is supposed to last 16 hours so I was quite disappointed when after 4 hours it was already starting to wear off. I had only been at home working on some things for this blog so it wasn't like I was running around or doing anything that would cause it to wear away quickly.

There was redness already showing through on my cheeks and the foundation was starting to separate on my nose and forehead.

After 6 hours:

The foundation was very patchy on my forehead and almost completely rubbed off on my nose. Some scars and acne was visible on my chin and more redness on the tops of my cheeks.

After 10.5 hours:

The foundation had completely separated all over my face and the acne and scars on my chin was clearly able to be seen. The foundation was very patchy all over my face and quite a few areas had worn off. 

My skin has been very easily irritated recently mostly due to it being winter so my skin has been dryer than usual. I found that for most of the day my face was fine but later on it started to get a bit itchy. I'm not sure if it was because of the foundation or just because my skin has been weird lately.

Above is how the foundation looked after 10.5 hours. (Sorry for the bad photo, it was late at night and we have horrible lighting). You can clearly see my acne and scarring on my chin.

Overall I did not love this foundation. It did not last long at all but with a primer and setting spray it would possible last better. The foundation by itself I have to say was average. Once I eventually got it blended nicely it looked good but didn't last long at all. I would not wear this if I was going out anywhere for longer than 4 hours as it just started looking terrible. 

I think this foundation would also be more suitable for people older than me as my skin is still doing funny teenage things and doesn't go well with quite dry or quite oily skin.

Sorry for this super long review, I just had so much to write about! 

Please leave a comment if there is anything you would like a review for. Also subscribe to this blog and my Youtube channel so you don't miss anything from me!

-Alexis :)

Maybelline Color Elixir Review + Swatches

Hi everyone

I got a few different shades of the Maybelline Colour Elixir Lip Glosses recently so I thought I would write a review and swatch the ones I got. 

I really like the formula of these lip glosses. They aren't too sticky and have a smooth, balm type consistency but still stay on your lips. They have a sponge applicator with a point for good precision when applying and lining the lips perfectly. These glosses also don't feel overly drying. A bad thing about them is they don't taste very nice so avoid getting any in your mouth!
They are very pigmented and the colour is amazing! There is 20 shades which are all beautiful ranging from nudes to deep berry/purple shades. 

I got 4 shades which are all limited edition. I couldn't find any of these shades left online but there may still be some left in stores if you're lucky! You can buy the other 20 shades here.

040 - I'm Blushing
This is a light pink/nude shade that is quite similar to my natural lip colour. This shade is a bit more sheer than the other shades I got but still has a good amount of pigment.

030 - Luminous Lilac
This one is a nice lilac purple that isn't too bright or intense so is very wearable. It is more pigmented than the last one so the colour looks amazing.

035 - Luxe in Lilac
This one is more of a purple than lilac. It is brighter than the last one and is also very pigmented. This is probably my favourite of the 4 shades I got. (It is actually more purple in person than it is in the photo).

025 - Radiant Raspberry
This one is a coral red colour and is quite bright but still wearable. This one is also the most pigmented of the 4 shades I got.

-Alexis :)

Monthy Favorites - May 2015

Hi everyone! 

I haven't done a monthly favorites post for a couple of months now but it's back! Here are my favorites from May 2015!

Chi Chi Classics eyeshadow palette - Chi Chi is one of my favourite makeup brands. It is very affordable and amazing quality. This Classics palette is perfect for everyday wear and I love using the soft browns for a simple look. There are also some shimmery shades in the palette which I like to use if I am going out somewhere like a party or event.

Designer Brands Infinite Gloss in Fairytale - Coming into winter my lips have been very dry. I really like this lipgloss for this time of the year as it is made with Paw Paw, Vitamin E, Argan oil, Jojoba oil and Manuka honey which moisturises and keeps your lips healthy. I got the shade Fairytale which is a pink/coral colour. The colour is quite sheer which I don't mind as I'm not a huge fan of coloured gloss. It would look nice layered over a lipstick. It is also very affordable.

Garnier Moisture Match Moisturiser - My skin is very dry at the moment from the change of seasons so I have been using this moisturiser twice a day. There is a large range so something for every skin type. It is SPF 20 so has some sun protection. I have found that since I started using this a couple of months ago my skin has been a looking a lot more hydrated and healthy.

Natural Living Hydrating Body Lotion - I use this moisturiser on the rest of my body and it has really helped with my dry skin. It is made with Shea butter but it has a slight fragrance to it which I don't mind too much but other people might not like it.

Bracelet - This bracelet is one that my friend Cassidy brought back from Brazil where he went on holiday. It has a small turquoise stone in the middle and wooden beads. I really love this bracelet because it has a bohemian look which I am loving at the moment.

Music:

Favourite song - Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs Ummet Ozcan - The Hum (Angemi Tropical Edit)




Favourite Producer - Rebourne
I have been listening to heaps or hardstyle and hard dance etc lately and Rebourne produces amazing euphoric hardstyle which I love! All his music has a great vibe and I can't stop listening!

That is all my favourites for May. I will have a post up at the beginning of July with my favourites for this month so be sure to check back to see it!

-Alexis :)

DIY - Nutmeg Face Mask! (with my sister Maddie!!)

Hi everyone!

With my high school ball only a few months away I thought it was about time I got on top of my skin care. Two of the problems I have when trying to find products for my face is that I either react to them of they completely dry out my skin so a simple solution to this was to make a homemade face mask.

Making your own face mask is great as you know exactly what is in it and you can add whatever you want to make a mask that works well for your skin. 

I made a Nutmeg face mask which will brighten dull skin and help with acne. 

Ingredients:

1/2 Tablespoon Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Milk

2 teaspoon Runny Honey

1. Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. The one I made is a bit liquidy because that is how I like it but if you like more of a paste add more nutmeg and less milk.

2. Start with a clean face.

3. Brush the mask onto your face. We used cheap synthetic brushes for this. (It can be a bit messy so don't wear your favorite onesie like Maddie did). You can let it set a bit then brush more on to make it thicker.

4. Leave your mask on for 10-15 mins. You could use this time to take selfies like we did haha.

5. Wipe off the mask with a damp towel. 

6. Apply a moisturiser. I use Garnier Moisture Match for normal skin. There is a huge range of these moisterisers so you can easily find one for your skin type.

I really like how my skin feels after using this mask. Use once or twice a week for best results. 

-Alexis :)

Hair Tutorial - My Washing And Straightening Routine For Wavy/Curly Hair

Hi everyone!
As you probably already know I have very thick wavy/curly hair. This means washing and straightening takes a while but I have learnt a few things that make it a bit easier. So here is my washing and straightening routine!

I wash my hair using Tresemme shampoo. If my hair still feels a bit dirty after one wash I will wash it again with the same shampoo. 
After that I use Pantene hydrating curls conditioner. While the conditioner is still in my hair I brush all the knots out of my hair with my hands then wash it out.
To dry my hair I just squeeze all the water out then wrap it in a towel for a while. I don't rub my hair with the towel because this makes it frizzy.
If I need to dry my hair quickly I use a hairdryer with a diffuser on the end.

When my hair is completely dry I can straighten it. I don't brush my hair because this also makes it frizzy so if there is any knots I carefully brush them out with my fingers. I am using my Nume In-vouge straightener set at 390 °F

I straighten my hair in 3 or 4 different sections starting at the bottom. If the underneath isn't straight there is no way your hair is going to look perfectly straight at the end.

I take a small section and slowly run the straightener down it starting as close to my head as possible. Running it slowly down works better than having to go over it heaps of times and does less damage. If the ends still aren't straight I go over them again starting from about halfway down my hair.

After I straighten the underneath I let down another section of hair and straighten that. I keep doing this until it is all straight.

So that is my washing and straightening routine! I hope this helps people with hair like mine!

-Alexis xx :)

Monthly Favourites - January 2015

Hi everyone! It's the first so it's time for my favourite things from the first month of 2015! 

First is these ankle boots from London Rebel. The first thing I liked about them is the colour. I love the shade of brown and they stood out to me from the black boots around them. They have a wood heel which I think is different and interesting. They are really comfortable and feel like I'm wearing wedges rather than heels so are good for everyday wear. They are no longer availiable from the London Rebel site but you can still buy them from No.1 shoes in NZ! Link at the bottom.

I have a new moisturiser this month which is Garnier Moisture Match. Since I started using it I have noticed my skin is brighter and makeup applies and blends very easily. I got the normal skin one but there is about 5 different ones available. 

During the holidays I have been spending a lot of time painting my nails. I love this Chi Chi glitter nail polish in the colour Kim Wannabee. It is their salon formula nail polish and I was not disappointed. As usual Chi Chi has done an amazing job on this product. There is almost more glitter than polish! Here's what I did with it.

I have still been working on my jewellery and a few weeks ago I made this rough amethyst necklace. I am very proud of this one and I love it so much I almost don't want to sell it! 

Next is a couple of things I got for Christmas. My grandma got me this belt. It is a Roxy one covered in studs and I love studs! I wear this belt heaps.

My sister got me this book which is wreck this journal. It isn't an ordinary book either. On every page it has a different way to wreck it. 

My favourite song of this month is Shake The Earth by Elephante ft. Lyon Hart. I will listen to this song on repeat! It is amazing and has such a good vibe.

That's it for this months favourites! Links to these are below.

-Alexis xx :)

Boots - Number One Shoes
Moisturiser - Farmers - or many other stores.
Chi Chi nail polish - Farmers
Wreck This Journal - Amazon or Whitcoulls
Belt - Roxy (sorry I can't find it online)
Necklace - Send me a message if you want it!!

Hair Tutorial - Side Plait

 Hi everyone
It's time for another hair tutorial! This is how to do a side plait which is super quick and easy. I like this because it gives the same look from the front as having the side of you hair shaved without actually shaving it. Another way to do this would be to do two smaller plaits instead of just one.

1. I usually straighten my hair first as it is frizzy but you don't have to. Start by creating a deep part on either side of your head.

2. Grab a small section from the front on the side that has less hair and start plaiting underneath so the plait stands up.

3. Keep plaiting right around to the back of your head.

4. Start to plait underneath the hair you want left out right around the bottom of your head to the other side.

5. Finish the plait off and tie it with a small hair tie.

 Done! Super easy once you get the hang of it. 
If you have anything you would like me to post leave a comment!

-Alexis xx :)